Connecting device

ABSTRACT

A connecting device having side support members with U-shaped slots disposed therein for connecting cross members. The cross members have ends cut at an angle such that the side support members are disposed at an angle of approximately sixty to eighty degrees with respect to a horizontal support surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Applicant hereby claims priority based on Provisional Application No.60/144,636 filed Jul. 20, 1999, and entitled “BED FRAME” which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally pertains to connecting devices forconnecting structural members and particularly to a bed frameconstruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a frame design, and in particular, a design for aconnection between the side rails and cross-bearing members of a framethat is economical, easy to assemble, and safer than conventionaldesigns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the above-described need by providing aconnecting device with a structural member having opposed end wallsconnected to a side wall. Each of the end walls has an inner wallextending therefrom in spaced apart relation to the side wall. Thestructural member has a first slot and a second slot. The first slotextends from the end wall through the inner wall and the second slotextends through the opposite inner wall.

A cross-bearing member having a side wall, end wall, inner wall and topwall disposed on at least one end engages with the structural member.The end wall and inner wall connect to the side wall and are spacedapart from the top wall such that the end wall, inner wall and side wallare capable of sliding through the first slot in the structural memberand the side wall on the opposite end is capable of sliding through thesecond slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like referencecharacters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connecting device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the connecting device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the cross member of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the inside top of one of theside support members;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the inside bottom of one ofthe side support members;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of one of the crossmembers;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the front top of one of the side supportmembers; and,

FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of the top of one of the side supportmembers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a pair of structural members 10, 13 are connected by aplurality of cross-bearing members 16. The structural members 10, 13comprise a left hand member 10 and a right hand member 13. The members10, 13 are substantially similar except for their right and left handorientation as described herein. The members 10, 13 are defined along alongitudinal axis X and axes Y, Z as shown in FIG. 4. The members 10, 13are preferably constructed from metal (18 gauge steel), although wood orplastic would also be suitable in some instances. The members 10, 13have a substantially planar side wall 19 that extends along the entirelength of the member. At the top and bottom of the side wall 19 thereare inner walls 22, 25 respectively. The inner walls 22, 25 arepreferably integrally formed by bending the metal. The top inner wall 22extends substantially parallel to the side wall 19. An end wall 28(shown in FIG. 4) extends substantially perpendicular to the side wall19.

The bottom inner wall 25 extends parallel to side wall 19, and thebottom end wall 31 (shown in FIG. 5) extends substantially perpendicularto side wall 19. The cross-bearing members 16 connect to the sidestructural members 10, 13 at opposite ends as detailed herein. Thecross-bearing members 16 have a central portion 43 disposed betweenopposite ends 46, 49. The ends 46, 49 interlock with a plurality ofslots 52, 55 (shown in FIGS. 4-5) in the side support members 10, 13 asdetailed below.

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross-bearing members 16 are angled at theends 46, 49 at an angle a of approximately sixty to eighty degrees withthe horizontal. As a result when the side support members 10, 13 areconnected by the cross members 16, they also take an angle ofapproximately sixty to eighty degrees to the horizontal.

In FIG. 4, the structural member 10 is shown in greater detail. As shownthe ends of the side support member 10 include an end wall 28perpendicular to the side wall 19 and an inner wall 22 parallel to theside wall 19. A slot 52 terminates at one end at the end of the innerwall 22. The slot 52 extends along the Z-axis to end wall 28. Then theslot 52 extends along the Y-axis to a point 53 near the side wall 19(best shown in FIG. 8). The slot 52 then extends in a straight linealong the X-axis for approximately one inch. Next, the slot 52 turnsinward and extends along the Y-axis to a termination point 54 on the endwall 28. Accordingly, the slot 52 forms a U-shape inside the end wall 28and then extends through the edge of the inner wall 22. The slot 52 mustgenerally permit the side wall 60 (shown in FIG. 6) to pass through andmust engage with a portion of the end of the cross-bearing member 16 tohold it in position. Accordingly, other shapes for slot 52 and end wall28 and inner wall 22 capable of accomplishing the above are alsosuitable. The slot 52 receives the end 46 (shown in FIG. 6) of thecross-bearing member 16 in sliding fashion as described hereafter.

Turning to FIG. 5, the inside bottom portion of the side support member10 has a corresponding slot 55 that also receives the end 46 ofcross-bearing member 16.

In FIG. 6, the end 46 and central portion 43 of cross-bearing member 16is shown in detail. The central portion 43 of cross-bearing member 16has a vertical side wall 60, a top wall 63 disposed perpendicular to theside wall 60, and a third wall 66 (shown in FIG. 3) connected to the topwall 63 by a curved section 69. The third wall 66 extends parallel tobut is much shorter than the vertical side wall 60. The end 46 has anopening 72 defined by an end wall 75 disposed perpendicular to thevertical side wall 60. The opening 72 of approximately five-eighths ofan inch is positioned between the end 78 of the top wall 63 and the endwall 75. The end wall 75 has an inner wall 81 disposed perpendicular toit and disposed in spaced apart parallel relation to the vertical sidewall 60. The end wall 75 is approximately three-quarters of an inchwide, and the inner wall 81 is approximately one-half inch wide.Accordingly, end 46 is capable of sliding downward through slot 52 fromthe top of the side support member 10 to the bottom of side supportmember 10 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).

As shown in FIG. 4, the end wall 28 of the structural member 10 has anopening defined by slot 52 that is capable of receiving the side wall60, the end wall 75, and the inner wall 81. Turning to FIG. 5, thebottom of the side support member 10 only has a slot 55 for the sidewall 60 to pass through. An opening for the end wall 75 and the innerwall 81 is not necessary at the bottom because these walls fit insidethe space between the side wall 19 and the inner wall 25.

FIG. 7 shows slot 52 from the inside of structural member 10, and FIG. 8shows slot 52 from the back of structural member 10.

Structural member 13 is substantially similar to member 10 and has slot52 disposed at the top such that it faces slot 52 on member 10 when theside support members are disposed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

End 49 is substantially similar to end 46 described above. Accordingly,ends 46, 49 engage with structural members 10, 13 in a similar fashionas described above.

The present invention provides a connecting device that is secure, easyto assembly and disassemble, and of relatively simple construction. Whenthe connecting device is used with side rails and cross-bearing membersto form a bed frame, the sixty to eighty degree angle on the end of thecross-bearing member provides for clearance around the perimeter of thebed at the floor level.

The present invention advantageously provides a connecting device forstructural beams that can be used in many applications besides the bedframe disclosed herein. The connection device can be used for connectingfloor joists, rafters, bridges, shelving, and the like.

While the invention has been described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents asmay be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connecting device, comprising: a structuralmember having a pair of opposed first and second end walls connected bya first side wall and having a pair of opposed first and second innerwalls extending from the first and second end walls respectively anddisposed in spaced apart relation to the first side wall, the first endwall having a first slot defined therein and extending from the firstend wall through the adjacent first inner wall, the second inner wallhaving a second slot defined therein; and, a cross-bearing member havinga third end wall connected to a second side wall and connected to athird inner wall disposed in spaced apart relation to the second sidewall, the third end wall being disposed such that the second side wall,third inner wall, and third end wall are capable of sliding through thefirst slot in the first end wall of the structural member and such thatthe second side wall is capable of passing through the second slot inthe second inner wall of the structural member.
 2. The connecting deviceof claim 1, wherein the third end wall of the cross-bearing member isangled at approximately sixty to eighty degrees with respect to ahorizontal support surface.
 3. The connecting device of claim 1, whereinthe first and second inner walls on the structural member are disposedsubstantially parallel to the first side wall.
 4. The connecting deviceof claim 1, wherein the third inner wall on the cross-bearing member isdisposed substantially parallel to the second side wall.
 5. Theconnecting device of claim 1, wherein the first slot on the structuralmember has a U-shaped portion disposed in the first end wall.
 6. Theconnecting device of claim 1, wherein the cross-bearing member has a topwall that is substantially perpendicular to the second side wall.
 7. Theconnecting device of claim 1, wherein the third end wall issubstantially perpendicular to the second side wall.
 8. The connectingdevice of claim 1, wherein the first and second inner walls are shorterthan the first side wall such that an opening is formed in thestructural member.
 9. A connecting device, comprising: at least twostructural members having a pair of opposed first and second end wallsconnected by a first side wall and having a pair of opposed first andsecond inner walls extending from the first and second end wallsrespectively and disposed in spaced apart relation to the first sidewall, the first and second end walls disposed substantiallyperpendicular to the first side wall, the first and second inner wallsdisposed substantially parallel to the first side wall, the first andsecond inner walls being shorter than the first side wall such that anopening is formed in the structural member, the first end wall having atleast one first slot defined therein and extending from the first endwall through the adjacent first inner wall, the second inner wall havingat least one second slot defined therein; and, a cross-bearing memberhaving a third end wall and a fourth end wall connected by a second sidewall and a third inner wall and a fourth inner wall disposed in spacedapart relation to the second side wall, the third end wall and fourthend wall being disposed such that the second side wall, third innerwall, and third end wall are capable of sliding through one of the firstslots in the first end wall of the structural member and such that thesecond side wall is capable of passing through one of the second slotsin the second inner wall of the structural member and such that thesecond side wall, fourth inner wall and fourth end wall are capable ofsliding through one of the first slots in the first end wall of thestructural member and such that the second side wall is capable ofpassing through one of the second slots in the second inner wall of thestructural member.
 10. The connecting device of claim 9, wherein thethird end wall and fourth end wall of the cross-bearing member areangled at approximately sixty to eighty degrees with respect to ahorizontal support surface.
 11. The connecting device of claim 9,wherein the at least one first slot on the structural member has aU-shaped portion disposed in the first end wall.
 12. The connectingdevice of claim 9, wherein the cross-bearing member has a top wall thatis substantially perpendicular to the second side wall.
 13. Theconnecting device of claim 9, wherein the third end wall issubstantially perpendicular to the second side wall.
 14. The connectingdevice of claim 9, wherein the first and second inner walls are shorterthan the first side wall such that an opening is formed in thestructural member.
 15. A bed frame, comprising: at least two structuralmembers having a pair of opposed first and second end walls connected bya first side wall and having a pair of opposed first and second innerwalls extending from the first and second end walls respectively anddisposed in spaced apart relation to the first side wall, the first andsecond end walls disposed substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall, the first and second inner walls disposed substantially parallelto the first side wall, the first and second inner walls being shorterthan the first side wall such that an opening is formed in thestructural member, the first end wall having at least one first slotdefined therein and extending from the first end wall through theadjacent first inner wall, the second inner wall having at least onesecond slot defined therein; and, at least one cross-bearing memberhaving a third end wall and a fourth end wall connected by a second sidewall and a third inner wall and a fourth inner wall disposed in spacedapart relation to the second side wall, the third end wall and fourthend wall being disposed such that the second side wall, third innerwall, and third end wall are capable of sliding through one of the firstslots in the first end wall of the structural member and such that thesecond side wall is capable of passing through one of the second slotsin the second inner wall of the structural member and such that thesecond side wall, fourth inner wall and fourth end wall are capable ofsliding through one of the first slots in the first end wall of thestructural member and such that the second side wall is capable ofpassing through one of the second slots in the second inner wall of thestructural member, the third and fourth end walls being disposed at anangle of sixty to eighty degrees with respect to the top wall.